Less driving means less gas tax revenue for state

BOSTON — As gas prices rise and people drive a bit less, the state is losing gasoline tax revenues it relies on for road and bridge projects.

The U.S. Transportation Department reported Monday that Americans drove 9.6 billion fewer miles in May than they did in the same month last year. It was the seventh month in a row that overall driving had declined.

In Massachusetts, gas tax collections were down 2.4 percent in the month of June. And since the tax is assessed on a per-gallon basis, higher fuel prices do not translate to higher tax receipts.

The Legislature is considering two bills that would give Gov. Deval Patrick the authority to borrow up to $3 billion for roads and bridge project, with the bonds to repaid by future gas tax receipts.